2023 Holy Monday “

Matthew 21:18-22

JESUS CURSES A FIG TREE

¹⁸ Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. ¹⁹ Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered. ²⁰ When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.²¹ Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. ²² If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Building upon 40 Days of Devotion we begin Holy Week. After 40 days of sacrifice, and repentance we are now faced with the prospect of an even more difficult task. Some might say we come out of the frying pan and jumped right into the skillet. Yesterday we had a moment to exhale, to celebrate. Palm Sunday reminded us that every now and then people get it right. Jesus enters humbly into Jerusalem but he is welcomed like the King he is. The people greet him with shouts of save us and blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. For just a moment it seems like things are going to get better. Still Jesus did not get caught up in the hype. Instead of relying on the emotions of the people to dictate his future actions, Jesus continue his pursuit to the cross. Jesus chooses the Hope of eternity over the hype of humanity.

Our text begins the next morning. After the hoopla of yesterday Jesus is on his way back to the city and sees a fig tree. Upon seeing the tree there is the expectation there would be figs on the tree. Jesus is hungry and is anticipating a breakfast of figs and fellowship. What he finds is an empty tree. Looks good but producing nothing. How often are we like this fig tree. We look good on the outside, we have our bibles, and we have memorized some key verses. We know “church talk” and can be seen in some of the “right” places. But upon closer inspection, we are full of sound and fury signifying nothing. There is no substance to us. Far too often we focus on our shell and neglect our soul. Jesus expects fruit and finds fakery. He then utters what I sense to be a scary utterance. Jesus says “may you never bear fruit again”. Wow and owww. The first law GOD gave creation was be fruitful and multiple. For Jesus to say be no more fruitful is to take away its purpose. Immediately the tree withers. Life without purpose is death. When I read this I can imagine what it would be like if all hope were gone. Even further when I read this I sense Jesus challenging us on being true to fulfilling our purpose. We are called to do more than look good and talk the talk. When we are fig trees in a world that is hungry, we are intended to bear fruit. Not just leaves, but fruit.

Jesus challenges us on bearing fruit and also uses this experience as a teaching moment for the disciples. Jesus replied to the disciples amazement by saying, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” When we pray we are exposed to an unlimited supply of power. Jesus helps us to unlock a treasure of incalculable value. Faith without doubt. The power is not in the praise of people but in the presence of GOD.

Today I am encouraged to be intentional about bearing fruit. The hype of should should not dictate the life we live. Beyond the hype, the work for the kingdom must still be done. Do not grow weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap a harvest i we faint not. #livebig

POint to Ponder: How will You choose hope over hype? Who have you hyped up only to find they disappointed you? Would you rather be loved for people pleasing  or respected for telling it like it is?

Lent 2023 Day 15 “Feeling The Pain”

Daily Scripture: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20128;%20Ezekiel%2036:22-32;%20John%207:53-8:11

Ezekiel 36 ²⁷ And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. ²⁸ Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God. ²⁹ I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you. ³⁰ I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. ³¹ Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices. ³² I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign Lord. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, people of Israel!

Feeling The Pain

Whew! You dodged the bullet. YOU know deep down inside YOU have messed up and yet the full weight of the consequences has not been felt. YOU have escaped a punishment that YOU deserved. Now what? Do YOU bask in the glory of escape or do YOU do the hard work of getting YOUR life together and avoiding the pitfalls that swallowed YOU in the first place? So often in our lives, we move on without any reflection. We just act like the blessings we have received we somehow had earned.

Our text in Ezekiel 36 addresses. The word of the LORD comes to Israel that GOD is about to move on their behalf. A blessing is on the way that will erase the shame they have been experiencing. The LORD is moving and yet Ezekiel is told to remind them this move of GOD is not because of them. Nothing they have done deserves anything but punishment. The LORD is going to bless to preserve the LORDS name which the Israelites have profaned.

Lent is a time of reflection and this scripture challenges us to truly count the cost of our blessings. Instead of the arrogance that makes us believe we deserve all the good and none of the bad, we need to see that we can disappoint the CREATOR so badly that the CREATOR has to rescue us from ourselves. We cannot unlive the past but we can learn from it. The challenge for us is to reflect not deflect. Reflect on the unwarranted blessings and allow ourselves to take responsibility for our disobedience. Vs 32 says Be ashamed and disgraced oh people of Israel. I am convinced the intent of this shame is not for us to wallow in our pain but to feel it so deeply that we course correct and don’t make the same mistake. The writing in John 8 speaks of a woman who escapes a death sentence for adultery and is admonished by Jesus to leave her life of sin. Today face YOURSELF and leave YOUR life of missing the mark (sin).

Point to Ponder: In what ways have YOU been unaccountable for YOUR actions? When counting YOUR blessings can YOU identify the pain YOU may have caused GOD? Commit to go and sin no more.

Lent 2023 Day 14 ‘The Blessing”

Daily Scriptures: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20128;%20Isaiah%2065:17-25;%20Romans%204:6-13&version=NIV

PSALM 128

A song of ascents.

¹ Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
    who walk in obedience to him.
² You will eat the fruit of your labor;
    blessings and prosperity will be yours.
³ Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
    within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
    around your table.
⁴ Yes, this will be the blessing
    for the man who fears the Lord.

⁵ May the Lord bless you from Zion;
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
⁶ May you live to see your children’s children—
peace be on Israel.

Blessings

If YOU do right, right will follow YOU. If YOU do wrong, wrong will overtake YOU. These words were spoken to me by one of my senior members during an early pastorate and they have stuck with me. Often times while seeking to live right we encounter challenges and setbacks. During these times it helps to remember that our lives are in response to a GOD that loves us and is fully capable of providing double for all our trouble.

The Psalmist shares a reminder for all who may listen. YOU may be working hard in efforts to make it all come together in this life. YOUR preparations may be impeccable and YOUR drive is undeniable.  Still, after all that YOU have done, it is not quite coming together like YOU think it should. The Psalmist reminds us that the blessing is not just a result of our efforts but a response from our heart. Blessed is the person who fears or reverences the LORD. In other words, they have their order of operations right. The put the will of YHWH over their will and then allow THY will to be done. When we are intentional about being led by YHWH we open the door to all YHWH has for us. And that is a lot. The Psalmist says We will eat the fruit of our labors and blessings and prosperity will be ours. As we broaden our understanding of prosperity we can cherish the blessings of presence more than presents. As our Lenten journey continues my prayer for YOU is that

The Lord bless you from Zion;
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
⁶ May you live to see your children’s children—
peace be on Israel.

Points to Ponder: In what ways do YOU reverence GOD daily? How have YOU experienced the blessings of GOD? How can YOU be a blessing for someone else?

Lent 2023 Day 9 “Keep Your Head Up”

^{PSALM 121} I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber;  indeed, he who watches over Israel    will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; ⁶ the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. ⁷ The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; ⁸ the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Keep Your Head Up

Have you ever climbed a hill or tried doing a rock climbing wall? One thing that becomes clear after just a few moments is the impossibility of climbing effectively with your eyes looking down. It is hard to climb and move forward when your eyes are not looking in the direction you intend to go. Life, like climbing, is best lived when we keep our heads pointed in the direction we intend to go. When I write keep our head up I mean it in a spiritual, emotional, and physical sense.

The Psalmist encourages the hearer to Look to the hills. As we know hills and mountains are on a higher plane than we are. By lifting our heads we gain a broader perspective of the terrain. This in turn reminds us that there is more than meets the eye if we walk with our head down. We are also reminded in the Psalm that the LORD is an ever present help. The LORD does not sleep or slumber and therefore watches over us, 24/7/365.

To spiritually keep our head up is to in all situations and circumstances seek first the kingdom of heaven. To keep our spiritual head up is to know that YHWH is always in control, even of the direction the wind blows and when it blows. Things may seem grim, but with an uplifted spirit we know our helper is ever-present. Our GOD does not slumber or sleep. From an emotional standpoint, to keep our head up is to recognize that when we are down we can choose our response. We may not be able to control the things that happen in our lives, and we may not have control over our thoughts about what happens, but we can control our response. Emotionally looking up means seeking in all things the blessing in the lesson we are learning. To look up is to say LORD I stretch my hand to you, no other help I know. In this, we trust that every ending is also a new beginning. We may have sadness in our lives but sadness does not have to control us.

Physically when we look up we set our sight-lines higher. One will get nowhere fast focused on their feet. The posture we maintain affects our ability to climb and move on. We are on a journey and it will feel like drudgery if we cannot focus on our destination not just our location. Lifting our heads opens us up to more possibilities and opportunities to prosper. The Psalmist covers all of these in this short Psalm. Keep your Head up.  Tupac wrote in the last verse of the song Keep Ya Head Up these words,

To all the ladies havin babies on they own
I know it’s kinda rough and you’re feelin all alone
Daddy’s long gone and he left you by ya lonesome
Thank the Lord for my kids, even if nobody else want em
Cause I think we can make it, in fact, I’m sure
And if you fall, stand tall and comeback for more
Cause ain’t nuttin worse than when your son
Wants to know why his daddy don’t love him no mo’
You can’t complain you was dealt this
Hell of a hand without a man, feelin helpless
Because there’s too many things for you to deal with
Dying inside, but outside you’re looking fearless
While tears, is rollin down your cheeks
Ya steady hopin things don’t all down this week
Cause if it did, you couldn’t take it, and don’t blame me
I was given this world I didn’t make it
And now my son’s getten older and older and cold
From havin the world on his shoulders
While the rich kids is drivin Benz
I’m still tryin to hold on to survivin friends
And it’s crazy, it seems it’ll never let up, but
Please… you got to keep your head up

Sisters and Brothers, Keep your head up and the LORD will watch over your coming and your going from this day and forevermore.

PRAYER: LORD when the cabinets are bare, and we cry out into the air, remind us that you neither slumber nor sleep. Keep us focused in the midst of our stressing on the confidence that you have a blessing for those who don’t give up. Help us we pray, to Keep our Heads Up.

Points To Ponder: What does it mean to you to keep your head up? Who have you witnessed keeping their head up that you draw strength from? What lesson do you have for someone in a struggle?

Lent 2023 Day 8 “Guilty”

Daily Scriptures: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2032;%20Exodus%2034:1-9,%2027-28;%20Matthew%2018:10-14

Exodus 34: ⁶ And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, ⁷ maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” ⁸ Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. ⁹ “Lord,” he said, “if I have found favor in your eyes, then let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance.”

Guilty

A few days ago I was in traffic court and was asked, “How do you plead?” In that moment I wanted to give every reason and excuse I could think of to say I didn’t do it or “You see what had happened was…”. I wanted to say these things, but the truth was my taillight was out. Knowing this, it was hard to admit but I was guilty as charged. At that moment I was at the mercy of the court. Gratefully I can say GOD is a lawyer in a courtroom and I was graced with a minor fine because I had fixed the problem.

In our text from Exodus, Moses is being given a second chance to deliver the 10 commandments. The first time ended in him angrily breaking the tablets after seeing the golden calf and the people dancing around it.  Moses had lost his cool and he knew he was guilty. Even so, GOD was compassionate and gracious and gave him a second chance. Even though Moses was guilty, he was forgiven.

Through this Lenten season, we have an opportunity to examine our lives and identify areas that we have missed the mark. Each day through our reading of scripture and intentional prayer we are able recognize we have fallen too easily and lingered in self pity too long. We are guilty. We have slipped and fallen and although we want to give excuses, in the end, we know the truth, we have messed up. As it was in court so it is with GOD. When we come clean and acknowledge our sin we are at the mercy of GOD. The awesome thing is GOD is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger and forgives wickedness. We may not always get it right but I encourage you not to compound your mistakes by being unaccountable. Moses advocates for GOD to not only be merciful to him but also to the people. This I also do for each reader. GOD has grace for your guilt.

Points to Ponder: How have you missed the mark? In what ways has guilt affected you? How can you advocate for someone else today?

Lent 2022 Day 10 “Mind Matters”

Philippians 3:17-20 New International Version

¹⁷ Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. ¹⁸ For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. ²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Mind Matters

It is day 10 of our journey toward consecration and today we draw attention to our minds. I remember a slogan from a few years ago that said a mind is a terrible thing to waste. Nothing could be more true. The mind is like a super computer that can lead to success or failure, happiness or hatefulness, peace or pain. Our minds are in the drivers seat of how we engage life and its myriad of subtleties. You are choosing to engage your mind right now as you read this and determine its value moving forward. Understanding the value of our minds on our life’s outcomes, it is critical to pause and assess what we are taking in. Like the body the mind feeds on input. If we eat junk we function less efficiently. If we consume mental junk we limp through a life we could be leaping through.

Our text from Philippians 3 highlights the effect of having a mind that is focused on the temporary and not the eternal. Paul speaks of those who are enemies of the cross because their focus is on earthly things. Paul encourages the believers at Philippi to focus their attention on those who are pressing toward the goal to win the prize for which GOD has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus. In short focus attention on those committed to Christ-like behaviors. The intention to execute in our lives is to nurture our minds in a way that is grounded in our awareness of our citizenship in heaven. The believer is working to live out the model prayer where Jesus teaches us to pray “THY Kingdom come THY will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Adopting a kingdom mindset gives us comfort in crisis, courage in conflict, and compassion in confusion. We know that this world is not our final home and YHWH is in charge of our outcomes.

A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Whats on your mind? I encourage you to set your mind on things above and not below. Trust that through these 40 days your mind will be more focused on your spiritual journey and your outcomes will be heavenly.

Points to Ponder: How and what are you feeding your mind? How is that working out for you? What do you intend to do moving forward that will build your mindset?

Lent 2022 Day 7 “Rescued and Restored”

Zechariah 3 New International Version

3 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. ² The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?” ³ Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. ⁴ The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.” ⁵ Then I said, “Put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by. ⁶ The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: ⁷ “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here. ⁸ “‘Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. ⁹ See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes^[b] on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day. ¹⁰ “‘In that day each of you will invite your neighbor to sit under your vine and fig tree,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Rescued and Restored

It is day 7 of our dedication to consecration. After a week I pray you are not getting weak. One of the things that we address through consecration is an awareness that we have been the recipients of grace. Think of a time where you knew you were out of control. You may have fallen into some bad habits and they consumed every thought you had. After a while you became so identified with your frailty that you forgot who you truly were. Like a garment that never gets changed you wore the residue of your recklessness and it weighed you down. Without consistent care we become fragile, fractured, and fallen. This happened to Israel and led to their exile from Canaan and it almost led to their extinction until YHWH extended grace.

In our text from Zechariah 3 we have the writer writing Joshua the priest as a representative of Israel. Joshua like Israel is being accused and judged by satan for his sin. While in the midst of this the LORD rebukes the accuser and reminds the accuser and us, We are like burning sticks snatched from the fire. The LORD has rescued us from the fire and we are no longer to carry the penalty and punishment for our actions. In short we are granted a second chance. We were frail and fractured but the LORD says we are still functional. The thing about fire however is it leaves a residue. The residue is like a reminder of where we’ve been. Knowing this the angel of the LORD instructs Joshua’s filthy clothes be removed. By doing this we learn to move on we have to leave the past behind.

On this 7th day of consecration I encourage you to leave the past behind. Take off your filthy clothes from the fire and put on your best clothes. You have been through the fire and even though you may have set the fire, the LORD, the ALMIGHTY CREATOR, has rescued you from destruction and you are restored.

Points to Ponder: How are you confronting the residue of what you’ve been through? How are you showing grace to others? How will you move forward in the confidence of your new garments?

Daily Scriptures Lent 2021

Date	Psalm	OT	Epistle	Gospel
Wed Feb 17	am: 95, 32, 143 pm: 102, 130	Jon 3:1-4:11	Heb 12:1-14	Luke 18:9-14
Thur Feb 18	am: 37:1-18 pm: 37:19-42	Deut 7:6-11	Titus 1:1-16	John 1:29-34
Fri Feb 19	am: 95, 31 pm: 35	Deut 7:12-16	Titus 2:1-15	John 1:35-42
Sat Feb 20	am: 30, 32 pm: 42, 43	Deut 7:17-26	Titus 3:1-15	John 1:43-51
Sun 1 Feb 21	am: 63, 98 pm: 103	Deut 8:1-10	1 Cor 1:17-31	Mark 2:18-22
Mon Feb 22	am: 41, 52 pm: 44	Deut 8:11-18	Heb 2:11-18	John 2:1-12
Tues Feb 23	am: 45 pm: 47, 48	Deut 9:4-12	Heb 3:1-11	John 2:13-22
Wed Feb 24	am: 119:49-72 pm: 49, 53	Deut 9:13-21	Heb 3:12-19	John 2:23-3:15
Thur Feb 25	am:  50, 59, 60 pm:  19, 46	Deut 9:23-10:5	Heb 4:1-10	John 3:16-21
Fri Feb 26	am: 40, 54 pm: 51	Deut 10:12-22	Heb 4:11-16	John 3:22-36
Sat Feb 27	am: 55 pm: 138, 139	Deut 11:18-28	Heb 5:1-10	John 4:1-26
Sun 2 Feb 28	am: 24, 29 pm: 8, 84	Jere 1:1-10	1 Cor 3:11-23	Mark 3:31-4:9
Mon Mar 1	am: 56, 57, 58 pm: 64, 65	Jere 1:11-19	Rom 1:1-15	John 4:27-42
Tues Mar 2	am: 61, 62 pm: 68	Jere 2:1-13	Rom 1:16-25	John 4:43-54
Wed Mar 3	am: 72 pm: 119:73-96	Jere 3:6-18	Rom 1:28-2:11	John 5:1-18
Thur Mar 4	am: 70, 71 pm: 74	Jere 4:9-10, 19-28	Rom 2:12-24	John 5:19-29
Fri Mar 5	am: 69 pm: 73	Jere 5:1-9	Rom 2:25-3:18	John 5:30-47
Sat Mar 6	am: 75, 76 pm: 23, 27	Jere 5:20-31	Rom 3:19-31	John 7:1-13
Sun 3 Mar 7	am: 93, 96 pm: 34	Jere 6:9-15	1 Cor 6:12-20	Mark 5:1-20
Mon Mar 8	am: 80 pm: 77, 79	Jere 7:1-15	Rom 4:1-12	John 7:14-36
Tue Mar 9	am: 78:1-39 pm: 78:40-72	Jere 7:21-34	Rom 4:13-25	John 7:37-52
Wed Mar 10	am: 119:97-120 pm: 81, 82	Jere 8:18-9:6	Rom 5:1-11	John 8:12-20
Thur Mar 11	am: 42, 43 pm: 85, 86	Jere 10:11-24	Rom 5:12-21	John 8:21-32
Fri Mar 12	am: 88 pm: 91, 92	Jere 11:1-8, 14-20	Rom 6:1-11	John 8:33-47
Sat Mar 13	am: 87, 90 pm: 136	Jere 13:1-11	Rom 6:12-23	John 8:47-59
Sun 4 Mar 14	am: 66, 67 pm: 19, 46	Jere 14:1-9, 17-22	Gal 4:21-5:1	Mark 8:11-21
Mon Mar 15	am: 89:1-18 pm: 89:19-52	Jere 16:10-21	Rom 7:1-12	John 6:1-15
Tue  Mar 16	am: 97, 99, 100 pm: 94, 95	Jere 17:19-27	Rom 7:13-25	John 6:16-27
Wed Mar 17	am: 101, 109 pm: 119:121-144	Jere 18:1-11	Rom 8:1-11	John 6:27-40
Thur Mar 18	am: 69 pm: 73	Jere 22:13-23	Rom 8:12-27	John 6:41-51
Fri Mar 19	am: 107:1-32 pm: 107:33-43	Jere 23:1-8	Rom 8:28-39	John 6:52-59
Sat Mar 20	am:  102, 108 pm: 33	Jere 23:9-15	Rom 9:1-18	John 6:60-71
Sun 5 Mar 21	am: 118 pm: 145	Jere 23:16-32	1 Cor 9:19-27	Mark 8:31-9:1
Mon Mar 22	am: 31 pm: 35	Jere 24:1-10	Rom 9:19-33	John 9:1-17
Tues Mar 23	am:121,122,123 pm: 124, 125, 126	Jere 25:8-17	Rom 10:1-13	John 9:18-41
Wed Mar 24	am:119:145-176 pm: 128, 129, 130	Jere 25:30-38	Rom 10:14-21	John 10:1-18
Thur Mar 25	am: 131, 132, 133 pm: 140, 142	Jere 26:1-16	Rom 11:1-12	John 10:19-42
Fri Mar 26	am: 22 pm: 141, 143	Jere 29:1, 4-13	Rom 11:13-24	John 11:1-27 or 12:1-10
Sat Mar 27	am: 137, 144 pm: 42, 43	Jere 31:27-34	Rom 11:25-36	John 11:28-44 or 12:37-50

Maundy Thursday “Love in Action”

Daily Scriptures: https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=34

John 13:1-17, 31b-35
13:1 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

13:2 The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper

13:3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God,

13:4 got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself.

13:5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.

13:6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

13:7 Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

13:8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.”

13:9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”

13:10 Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.”

13:11 For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

13:12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?

13:13 You call me Teacher and Lord–and you are right, for that is what I am.

13:14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

13:15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

13:16 Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them.

13:17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

13:31b When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him.

13:32 If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.

13:33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’

13:34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.

13:35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Love In Action

What do you like most about your feet? If you are like many people, the least favorite part of their body is their feet. In some ways, it stands to reason. (no pun intended). We walk on them all day every day. We often enclose them in shoes, and generally, unless they are causing a problem, we neglect them. This modern perception is also an ancient one. We find even in this Biblical text a sense of how body perception can drive behavior. Maundy Thursday and the history of foot washing established by Jesus tells us a lot about our roles as followers of Jesus. We never stand so high as when we stoop so low as to wash anothers’ feet.

In our text we find Jesus, sensing the magnitude of the life he has been called to live. It’s a couple days after his “flash mob” parade into Jerusalem, and a day or so before his public execution. A lot is weighing heavy in his spirit. One thing we see about Jesus is although his life is in the balance, he never stops teaching. Jesus is the ultimate example of how to live until you die. Instead of running and hiding, or over-indulging in creature comforts, Jesus in our text is found on his knees, washing the feet of his disciples. That almost doesn’t sound right. The Master, the Lion of Judah, the Prince of Peace, the Son of GOD, on his knees, washing the feet of a group of followers whose faith wobbled, and actions were erratic to say the least. Not only that but Jesus washes the feet of the very man who will betray him in less than a day, and of another who will deny even knowing him. I don’t know about you, but that blows my mind. I can think of the times I have to challenge myself not to think of myself as other. When I say that I mean there are times it takes work to find the connection between myself and the people who are least like me. I can assure you, kneeling and washing the feet of someone I couldn’t trust would be the last thing on my mind. And that is why I love Jesus so. Jesus is showing me that no matter how high I fly I am never better than anybody. Jesus is showing me that if I have been blessed abundantly it is to share and not to show off. Jesus by kneeling helps me to stand up to the worst parts of myself and become a better person.

Now Jesus stooping to bless did not thrill everybody. In fact, Simon Peter said, “You shall never wash my feet”. I like Peter. Stil,l Jesus’ response to Peter gives us our marching orders. Jesus says, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” Wow! Jesus does not take the easy way out. I might have said, shoot I didn’t want to wash your stinky feet anyway. You’ve been walking through the unpaved roads of the country side, stepping on GOD knows what, with open toed sandals and no socks, Yeah Pete you can have your stink feet. But Jesus, responds in a way that reminds every believer, you are never too good to serve. Secondly, our service is not based on the merit of the people we are serving. Peter was on the verge of denying Jesus and yet Jesus washes his feet. Love is an action word. Love is a verb.

Today on Maundy Thursday I encourage you to bless somebody. Humble yourself and serve.

Point to Ponder: How can YOU serve? Are there any jobs that you feel are beneath you? Would you wash the feet of someone that might betray you?

Holy Week Monday “Hope Over Hype”

 

Matthew 21:18-22

Jesus Curses a Fig Tree

¹⁸ Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. ¹⁹ Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.

²⁰ When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.

²¹ Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. ²² If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Building upon 40 Days of Devotion we begin Holy Week. After 40 days of sacrifice, and repentance we are now faced with the prospect of an even more difficult task. Some might say we come out of the frying pan and jump right into the skillet. Yesterday we had a moment to exhale, to celebrate. Palm Sunday reminded us that every now and then people get it right. Jesus enters humbly into Jerusalem but he is welcomed like the King he is. The people greet him with shouts of save us and blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. For just a moment it seems like things are going to get better. Still Jesus did not get caught up in the hype. Instead of relying on the emotions of the people to dictate his future actions, Jesus continue his pursuit to the cross. Jesus chooses the Hope of eternity over the hype of humanity.

Our text begins the next morning. After the hoopla of yesterday Jesus is on his way back to the city and sees a fig tree. Upon seeing the tree there is the expectation there would be figs on the tree. Jesus is hungry and is anticipating a breakfast of figs and fellowship. What he finds is an empty tree. Looks good but producing nothing. How often are we like this fig tree. We look good on the outside, we have our bibles, and we have memorized some key verses. We know “church talk” and can be seen in some of the “right” places. But upon closer inspection, we are full of sound and fury signifying nothing. There is no substance to us. Far too often we focus on our shell and neglect our soul. Jesus expects fruit and finds fakery. He then utters what I sense to be a scary utterance. Jesus says “may you never bear fruit again”. Wow and owww. The first law GOD gave creation was be fruitful and multiple. For Jesus to say be no more fruitful is to take away its purpose. Immediately the tree withers. Life without purpose is death. When I read this I can imagine what it would be like if all hope were gone. Even further when I read this I sense Jesus challenging us on being true to fulfilling our purpose. We are called to do more than look good and talk the talk. When we are fig trees in a world that is hungry, we are intended to bear fruit. Not just leaves, but fruit.

Jesus challenges us on bearing fruit and also uses this experience as a teaching moment for the disciples. Jesus replied to the disciples amazement by saying, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” When we pray we are exposed to an unlimited supply of power. Jesus helps us to unlock a treasure of incalculable value. Faith without doubt. The power is not in the praise of people but in the presence of GOD.

Today I am encouraged to be intentional about bearing fruit. The hype of should should not dictate the life we live. Beyond the hype, the work for the kingdom must still be done. Do not grow weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap a harvest i we faint not. #livebig

POint to Ponder: How will You choose hope over hype? Who have you hyped up only to find they disappointed you? Would you rather be loved for people pleasing  or respected for telling it like it is?